The San Antonio Spurs had just started feeling like they were developing a rhythm with Kawhi Leonard back in action. After missing the first 27 games of the season with a quad injury, Leonard returned on December 12th against the Dallas Mavericks and put up 13 points and six rebounds in just 16 minutes of action. While he’s sat out four of Spurs’ last 12 games due to rest and maintence, the team received troubling news on Sunday afternoon.
Before taking on the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, head coach Gregg Popovich revealed that Leonard has a partial tear in his left shoulder. Per Michael Wright of ESPN:
Pop said Kawhi has a partial tear in that shoulder.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) January 8, 2018
Pop adds that Leonard suffered this injury Friday night when the Spurs took on the Phoenix Suns. While this injury isn’t considered serious, it sounds like it will certainly hold Leonard out at least a few games.
Even though Kawhi Leonard has a partial terse in his shoulder, the team at this point doesn't think it's serious. Team will continue to monitor it over these next few days. He has not yet been ruled out for Thursday in LA against the Lakers.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) January 8, 2018
“I don’t know [when Kawhi will return],” Pop said. “It depends on how his shoulder goes.”
Leonard has been averaging 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 block per game in eight games of action thus far this season with the team compiling a 4-4 record with him. Now without Leonard at least for the next couple of games, the Spurs will certainly look to Kyle Anderson to take on a more significant role at small forward while LaMarcus Aldridge returns to being the sure-fire number one option with San Antonio.
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